An update

Its been a few months since I've sat down and looked back on my work over the last few months. Before it gets too far to remember I thought I'd better do now!

I've been testing quite a few glazes and finally have at least two that I will incorporate into my current work. Over the past few months I have also picked up a number of fabulous glassware pieces that I've been making moulds of. I really enjoy the greenware clean up process, paring back to tidy the finished product - as strange as it may sound it is actually quite enjoyable and relaxing! Except when you press a little too hard and then (@#*#JK(*#

I still can't seem to get building big out of my head and have done a few large coneish shell sculptures. One of my mentors is Mark Chatterley who just amazes me with his whole working process. I'll never be able to build as big as Mark's work but his work certainlly challenges your line of thinking.

Also I am working hard on the wheel to master that thing (is it ever possible??) with the help of my teacher at Tafe Carol. Now the end of year is close most of my classmates are working on their end of year work from home which means those at class have a little more one on one time with our teachers - great for me!

I'm also refreshing my skills learnt at the Winter School Printing on Clay Workshop I attended in Bowral in July this year and will incorporate this into my wheel work. I brought some of the samples back with me on the plane however I'm still waiting for a box of them to arrive by mail - can't wait! Shouldn't be too long now.

Progress for my book "The Sculptors Toolbox" is coming along very nicely. Interest from sculptors of all mediums has been great, the submissions to date are mostly out of the ordinary in terms of tools - not too many main stream items - which is going to provide a great read.

A few fabulous submissions from some truly talented (and patient) international sculptors. The quality of the images supplied has been great. We've extended the deadline date for another month; just to allow a little time for those gathering their images. An example page should be up on the website soon http://www.thesculptorstoolbox.com/

More soon.

Chards

Over the weekend I went to the Shed (still go there occasionally) to pick up some previously fired gear and brought it home. I got home on Monday night to find the shelf in my studio had come away from the wall dropping its contents onto my newly fired stuff!! Not happy Jan.

Note to self (and Partner) shelves need to be permanent!

I've had a few days to get over it but its still pretty upsetting. I had this awesome paperclay bowl I had made which is now in smithereens.

Student Again

Its been a while since I've written, since then I've enrolled in ceramics at Tafe. LOVE IT!
Its great to have access to some awesome tutors and the class is full of inspiring women of all ages. The facilities are great and am just so glad I'm there to further develop my skill.

Australian Ceramics Triennale

As if the Printing on Clay workshop in Mittagong wasn't enough for my brain, why not totally emerse myself whilst in NSW so.. thats what I did. I attended the last day of the Ceramics Triennale and didn't I have an awesome time!

The presentations we incredibly informative on subjects close to my heart such as working in the disability sector for therapeutic reasons as well as the fun challenges of exhibiting.

Noosa's very own Rowley Drysale sat on the Value of Exhibitions panel with Curator Peter Haynes and Gallery owner Helen Stephens which was chaired by the whitty and well travelled Janet Mansfield. Rowley's presentation about exhibiting for artists was bl**dy hilarious.

I also chatted with a few of my heros and put faces to some names I have been following for some time. Another presentation I really enjoyed was the Ceramic Passport presented by a number of artists who have attended residencies in China, Egypt, and France. This is certainlly a goal of mine one day.

Sydney

Winter School, Sturt Uni - Mittagong NSW

Another month has gone by, I can't believe its almost August. Last week I attended the Printing on Clay Winter School with Sturt Uni at Mittagong. It was fantastic! At final count we learnt about 14 different techniques to print onto clay.

Petra Svoboda our tutor was fantastic and our small group were all as enthusiastic as each other, participants came from Tassie, Newcastle, Thailand and Sydney and of course me ... Queensland.

Other than picking up many exciting techniques to broaden my skillbase I also feel I made some great friends who I'll stay in touch with and share my progression as I put my new learnings into action.

The weather was certainlly freezing, getting down to 1 - 3 degrees at night however the studios were warm and my beautiful Cousins house was a great haven to lay my weary head after a day of learning. I feel very fortunate to have had family to stay with while I was experiencing something quite special in my journey of ceramics.

time to gloat!

My day job is as a public relations and marketing consultant. My longest standing client is an aged care facility in Brisbane that I have a very big soft spot for.

This picture is of a book I published in celebration of Queenslands 150th Birthday and Trinder Parks 40 years of service. The sculpture by well known Queensland sculptor Kate French is of Arthur (Pop) Trinder who was the original donor of the land to the Lutheran Church back in the 60s.

The book is a compilation of more than 50 memoirs of residents, former residents, members of the community and community leaders within the Logan district.

The publication was sponsored by the Q150 Grant round and the event by Trinder Park and Lutheran Community Care. More than 100 people attended the celebration including State Member for Woodridge, Desley Scott and Councillor Russell Lutton. The original Matron of Trinder Park from the days of the doors opening in 1969 Judith Rose (Weppner) also was in attendance.

Other than having a bad (first time in four years) bout of the flu the day was fantastic!

International Expert comes to Sunshine Coast

After a two year fascination with Paperclay I decided I would work on enticing Pioneer of Paper clay Graham Hay to Queensland and the Sunshine Coast to conduct a workshop.

The workshop sold within a matter of days so I 'enticed' Graham once again to extend his stay so a wider audience of paper clay advocates could have some time with the 'master'.

Whilst the 2nd workshop was only for a day people traveled from near and far to attend and certainlly I am sure the world of ceramics (within those that attended either of the three days) has now massively changed.

Graham suggests, throw out your rules; anything is possible. Why Bisc? Why Glaze? Why not join dry and dry clay? Why not add noodles, rice, wool and fabric. So... beware industry for ceramics and sculpture I'm sure many many perspectives have changed and you're about to see it.

I hope to coordinate another Graham Hay workshop for Queensland in 2009. I, like many others, can't get enough of his 'anything is possible' method when dealing with clay.

Pinch Bowls

Temaku, titanium on southern ice.

Fish out of water

I had fun making these fish out of paperclay and using all sorts of patterns.

Safron

I glazed the smaller doll for my claymate Therese, she wanted to use this saffron colour which she made. As a set they look good but now Saffron has gone to a new home.

Kiln ready for unpacking

I unpacked the kiln early June, just havn't had a chance to update my blog for a few weeks. Unpacking the kiln is always exciting yet, worrying and often annoying. Overall as I'm still in my early stages of getting my glazes right if I get a few things right I'm happy. I now use those good pieces to refine my work.

Caloundra Art Centre Assoc Fair

The Fair is on again, will be nice to be a participant this year rather than 'organiser'.

Fish going to the Fair

The Caloundra Art Centre Assoc Fair is on this weekend so I'm getting all my items ready for sale. Its a great time to 'release' some of those bits I've been holding onto allowing me space (mostly at home and in my head) to create new designs. I really like this Bream and think it will become a regular stock item for me, great for blokes rather than all my 'girly' designs.

Kiln is packed

Yesterday I glazed then packed the kiln for stoneware firing. The most exciting part is always opening the door after the firing, its like a box of chocolates without the labels, you never know what you're going to get! Hopefully I'm getting better at this though and with my note taking, replication a little simplier!

gotta get me a kiln

I'm feeling a little disappointed today, yesterday I was due to install my peacock in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Sculptors Qld exhibition. I knew it would be tight to get it done and unfortunately due to the rain, the last (and most crucial) firing couldn't happen. Note to self - don't leave things to the last minute!

I guess one good thing is that come Monday, Tuesday I'll have a piece to enter in the next exhibition that comes up. I had my tool kit for the installation waiting by the door yesterday only to hear the firing didn't take place.

So... I'm on the hunt for a kiln. So far I've been offered a three phase kiln but we don't really have enough space for that and whilst I could certainally fill it regularly, I think I'd rather start with something a little smaller.

Graham Hay Workshop

I can't help myself in 'organising things'. I've been observing Graham Hay's work for some time now and asked him to consider a local workshop. The response has been great and its an excellent opportunity for our local area potters to learn from his talents.

Garden Dolls

I'm still developing these but these are two of my favourite so far. They stand at about a foot tall.

Ahh Sealife!

Just thought I'd sneak in a shot of early Autumn for our non local friends. Jealous yet?

Raku Firing @ Quix

In March I attended a raku firing, missed the first day which was unfortunate but the firing was fun. It was also great to meet some more local artists who I hope I'll see again soon.

Bells are ringing

I've had a few days where I've sat at the wheel and made bells, I'm still working on shapes and designs.

Box Workshop

I'm doing a bit of catch up, life has been so hectic I havn't had a chance to write for a while. In January I attended a workshop by Jackie Glasson on boxes. Not only did we learn a new way to create a box but a really simple way to make paperclay!

Laura

Korean Master "Wanee"

Quik decision to go to Quixotica

Last night I got an email advising me about a workshop over this long weekend with three Internationally renowned artists in Cooroy so I jumped at the chance to join in. I couldn't sleep I was so excited!

The talented threesome hosts were; Wanee (Kim Se Wan) referred to as The Young Korean Master who threw massive vessels on his Korean low sunk wheel, Laura McLean a Canadian who has developed an awesome method for developing a unique method for building slab Sculptural Vessels and Rowley Drysdale: an Australian Potter who unbeknownst to me (being a newby to the Sunshine Coast) is a very well respected Australian Ceramic Artist and Teacher who lives in my neck of the woods.

After lunch Laura and Wanee gave us a pictorial display of some of their previous projects and current works, I felt priviledged to have been able to meet such international talent and am looking forward to the launch of their exhibition at Fusions in Brisbane next month.

Also attending the workshop today were some very talented local artists with diverse backgrounds and driven by a variety of subject matter.

I had an awesome day and am glad to have been able to have met Rowley and see first hand his purpose built exhibition space and studio which is positioned in the most ideal tranquil bush setting. A number of other local artists utilise the artists space - it was great to observe some of their work also.

Ahhh after such an exciting and mind blowing day I think I'll sleep well tonight, no doubt Wanee, Laura and Rowley will sleep extra well after their mammoth effort this weekend. Unfortunately its raining again the and wood for the wood fired kiln will be getting wet, hopefully today will be sunny and not humid so the wood can be prepared for the fire.

Display Cabinet

Caloundra Arts Centre Assoc Display Cabinet

The CACA has more than 17 different art groups and Jan/ Feb was Pottery/ AMPS turn. We decided to do something different and show the stages in the creation process. Our craft (within CACA) is probably the dirtiest so it was fun for us to be able to show the process rather than just the finished product so onlookers can understand the process.

Firing up for 2009

On Saturday Therese and I loaded the kiln for my first gas firing for the year. The large triangular sculpture has been sitting in the firing shed for four months or more so I'm keen to get it finalised and sit it with it partner. Behind it is my Dragon created from a workshop I missed out on in November and no it doesn't have hair its my first creation of my wig set sitting on top only for the firing. My paperclay doll is to the left; can't wait till she comes out!

The Peacock

I've got an idea, so by publishing this picture I am ensuring this idea will come to fruition.

Seeing Green

I had been spending a bit of time yesterday looking at US based ceramic artists and came across David Gilhooly's site. He has created a whole line of food items incorporating frogs. Its such a strange subject matter but awesome to see how he gets the food items (donuts, pasta, tacos - you name it!) so incredibly life like!

All these frogs reminded me of my little personal stash of tadpoles in my two backyard ponds. A gift from a friend Alan who breeds beautiful Green Frogs. Upon a really hard look I was able to find two tiny little frogs, they would be no bigger than your thumb nail and as you can see easily camouflaged.

I'm really taking notice of things that inspire me and asking myself why, is it the colour, the texture or the emotion it brings.

November Fair

Just one of the display rooms at the Caloundra Art Centre Association Fair that I coordinated in November. I sadly resigned as Convenor after two fairs so I could concentrate more on my first love - MUD!!

The November Fair, I am proud to say was the most succesful (financially and attendence wise) in the history of the Fairs for CACA.

Two of my heads in the November Caloundra Arts Centre Association which were sold.

Emily

Emily in the making

Choir Angel

Stars Falling

Christmas Tinkers

Tinkers have been a dream of mine to create ever since I saw some beautiful bells in Melbourne about four years ago. These tinkers are strung up on twine left to hang in the wind. The delicacy of them isn't really known until they tinkle together in the wind. Some of my friends received them as gifts this Christmas.

Vase

I'm still experimenting with these. Yes okay my favourite colour is pink! These have been created with brs, underglaze and then clear glaze. The next time I make these I'm going to make more use out of paperclay and scale them down to become finer pieces for a posie.

The great thing about these vases is that they don't need anything in them to be complete, as a stand alone item they can fill up visible space rather than be locked away in a cupboard awaiting the arrival of an unexpected bunch of flowers. hehe! :>

Lace Lady

Salad Bowl

Vases Ver2

Those Crazy Girls!

Greg Daly Special

This is one of my favourite glazes: Greg Daly Special. Its a tricky little monkey to master (I sure am not there yet) but on this piece I managed to get it right.

Burden

Birds

Poolboy

Its Official!! I'm a blogger.

Okay I've decided to give this blog thing a go and commit to regular entries.
It will be a great tool to look back on, however until then you'll have to forgive me for loading 12 months worth of images of my previous work.